Bayern clings on as Arsenal fightback falls just short

By James Masters, CNN

Updated 2329 GMT (0729 HKT) March 13, 2013

Bayern clings on9 photos

Gem from Giroud – Olivier Giroud gave Arsenal the perfect start when he slammed home from close-range after Theo Walcott had got in behind the Bayern defense. Following a 3-1 defeat in the first leg, Arsenal needed a fast start and it got it.

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Bayern clings on9 photos

Rocking Robben – Arjen Robben was a constant danger to the Arsenal defense and kept the visiting players busy as Bayern looked for an equalizer.

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Bayern clings on9 photos

Red mist – Bayern, which is 20 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, had not suffered a defeat since October 28 in any competition. Its frustration was clear to see with striker Mario Mandzukic aggrieved with his side's showing.

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Bayern clings on9 photos

Twist in the tale – With just four minutes of normal time remaining, Arsenal grabs its second goal to set up a thrilling finale thanks to Laurent Koscielny's header. The Frenchman headed home to leave Bayern clinging on.

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Bayern clings on9 photos

Bayern breathe – Bayern Munich duo Philipp Lahm and Thomas Muller look relieved after the 2-0 home defeat, a result which takes the German side through on away goals following a 3-3 overall draw.

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Bayern clings on9 photos

Malaga mission – Malaga's Javier Saviola goes up against Porto's Alex Sandro with the Spanish club aiming to overturn a one-goal deficit from the first leg.

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Bayern clings on9 photos

Inspirational Isco – Just two minutes before the break, Malaga made the breakthrough when talented midfielder Isco collected Manuel Iturra's pass and fired an unstoppable effort into the top corner.

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Bayern clings on9 photos

Santa's presents – Substitute Roque Santa Cruz netted a 77th minute winner to make it 2-0 on the night and send Malaga through 2-1 on aggregate.

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Bayern clings on9 photos

Party time – Malaga's players celebrate at the final whistle following the 2-0 win over Porto -- a result which secured a 2-1 aggregate victory overall and its place in the quarterfinals for the first time in its history.

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Story highlights

Bayern Munich progresses to quarterfinals of Champions League

Bayern beaten 2-0 on the night by Arsenal but go through on away goals

Malaga through to last eight for first time in its history

Spanish side saw off Porto 2-0 to claim 2-1 aggregate victory

A glorious failure -- but a failure.

Arsenal did what it does best Wednesday -- it went tantalizingly close, moved to within touching distance and then flattered to deceive.

Its 2-0 victory at Bayern Munich will prove as frustrating as it is satisfying, as once again, Arsenal left itself with more questions than answers.

This was the team which was defeated by fourth-tier Bradford in England's second cup competition, dumped out of the FA Cup by first division Blackburn and embarrassed in the first leg by Munich.

And yet, it is results like this one, which gives a microcosm of the frustration surrounding Arsenal's failings.

Currently fifth in the English Premier League, five points off the final Champions League qualification spot, Arsenal might not even dine at the top table of European football next season.

That makes this victory even more mystifying.

While the result should be applauded, it is Arsenal's inability to produce such performances when it really matters which rankles.

But this is Arsenal -- the team which plays some of the most aesthetically pleasing football ever seen, only to fall short at the crucial moment.

That final big chance didn't materialize. A valiant effort, a noble effort, but a defeat nonetheless. It was a tease.

"It's very difficult to go out of the Champions League for anybody, especially when you lose at home, you make it difficult for yourself," Wenger told Sky Sports.

Barca blows Milan away 10 photos

Barca blows Milan away10 photos

Magic Messi – Leo Messi gave Barcelona the perfect start by curling home an exquisite effort with just five minutes on the clock following a wonderfully intricate team move. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Barca laid siege to the Milan goal with Andres Iniesta's shot turned onto the crossbar.

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Barca blows Milan away10 photos

Jumping for joy – Xavi, captaining the side in place of Carles Puyol, jumps for joy after Messi's early strike. Barcelona looked a completely different side to that which lost at San Siro three weeks ago as it piled the pressure on Milan.

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Barca blows Milan away10 photos

That man once more – Milan wasted a glorious opportunity to equalize when M'Baye Niang raced clear and shot against the post and that miss was severely punished when Messi slammed home Barcelona's second of the evening.

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Barca blows Milan away10 photos

Vamos Villa – David Villa curled home Barca's third on 55 minutes to put his side into the lead for the first time overall in the tie. The striker latched onto Xavi's delicate pass before bending the ball into the far corner.

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Barca blows Milan away10 photos

Alba's last act – Jordi Alba added a fourth in stoppage time as Barcelona became the first team to overturn a two-goal first leg deficit without an away goal in the history of the competition.

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Barca blows Milan away10 photos

Fast start – After holding Galatasaray to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Turkey, Roman Neustaedter gave Schalke the lead in Gelsenkirchen with a close-range finish after 17 minutes.

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Barca blows Milan away10 photos

Hamit hammer – Galatasaray pulled level when former Schalke man Hamit Altintop produced a stunning 25-yard effort to give the Turkish side a crucial away goal.

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Barca blows Milan away10 photos

Yes for Yilmaz – Galatasaray continued to look threatening and took a 2-1 lead three minutes before the break when Buruk Yilmaz ran through to score his eighth goal in this year's Champions League.

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Barca blows Milan away10 photos

Bastos back in it – A mistake by Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera allowed Michel Bastos to equalize and make it 2-2 on the night as Schalke battled back.

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Barca blows Milan away10 photos

Turkish delight – With Schalke pushing forward in search of a winner, Galatasaray hit its opponent on the break with Umut Bulut racing clear to finish at the second attempt and send the Turkish side into the last eight thanks to a 3-2 win on the night and a 4-3 aggregate victory.

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EXPAND GALLERY

French football's foreign legion 7 photos

French football's foreign legion7 photos

Allez le Toon – A Newcastle fan shows his support for the club's French foreign legion at the club's home game against Southampton in February.

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French football's foreign legion7 photos

Raising the flag – Newcastle fans made their players from across the Channel feel at home by producing a mosaic of the French flag before the 4-2 win over Southampton at St. James' Park.

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French football's foreign legion7 photos

Bienvenue a Newcastle – There were seven French players named in the matchday squad for Newcastle's win over Southampton, while African stars Papiss Cisse and Cheik Tiote are both French speakers. The home fans have been delighted with the impact of the new arrivals with the team beginning to turn its season around.

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French football's foreign legion7 photos

Le Pub – The locals have even renamed their own pub "La Fraise" instead of its original name, "The Strawberry." Newcastle is more famous for its Brown Ale than its Chardonnay and Merlot.

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French football's foreign legion7 photos

Moussa magnifique – Midfielder Moussa Sissoko has been a great acquisition for Newcastle since making the move from French club Toulouse in January. The 23-year-old scored three times in his opening six appearances and is considered as one of the best purchases of the transfer window.

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French football's foreign legion7 photos

Taxing times – French President Francois Hollande (center) failed in his initial plan to raise tax to 75% but has not given up. Meanwhile, Axelle Lemaire (left), MP for Northern Europe, insists tax is not a factor behind the influx of French players to the English Premier League.

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French football's foreign legion7 photos

Au revoir Depardieu – French actor Gerard Depardieu has moved to Russia following a row with the government over potential tax rises. He was welcomed by President Vladimir Putin and awarded Russian citizenship at the Kremlin in January.